Luggage or like handle of reinforced and cushioned construction



May 6, 1952 STEIN 2,595,724

L. Y LUGGAGE OR LIKE HANDLE OF REINFORCED AND CUSHIONED CONSTRUCTIONFiled June 4, 1947 Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT LUGGAGE ORLIKE HANDLE OF REIN- FORCED AND CUSHIONED CON- STRUCTION 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a handle construction, and moreparticularly concerns a lu age or like handle of reinforced andcushioned construction.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved handle which, whenused in carrying luggage, leather goods or the like to which the handlemay be attached, feels comfortable to the hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a handle possessingunusual ruggedness and durability.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there isprovided a handle comprising an assembly of separately formed upper andlower parts, the upper part including a shape-sustaining and reinforcingrib and the lower part having a comfortable palm-fitting shape, therebeing a cushioning structure between the parts to increase the comfortof the handle in use.

Another feature resides in'having the cushioning structure formed bycooperating portions of both of the parts of the handle.

Another feature of the invention relates to the structure of the uppermember including a covering over a reinforcing strip and having themargin of the covering joined to depend centrally to form a flange forfastening to the lower member.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will more fullyappear from the following detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereofand in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating initial assembly of the lower handgrip member and showing how the cushioning filler portion thereof isplaced centrally of the cover portion;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the hand grip assembly shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the hand grip assembly afterturning in of the marginal and end portions of the cover and fasteningthem to the filler;

Figure 4 is a front elevation-a1 view, partially broken away andillustrating the upper reinforcing member and lower hand grip memberdisposed for assembly;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the handle fullyassembled with the upper and lower members stitched together; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sec- Figure 5,

As shown on the drawings:

The invention will be described as applied to making ahandle chieflyfrom leather, but it should be understood that various components of thehandle may be formed of various suitable materials such, for example, asfabrics, composition materials,- plastics, and the like.

The reference numeral N] indicates generally the lower member whichserves as a palm seat or grip and is ultimately formed to a comfortablerounded external shape to conform generally to the palm of the hand inwhich grasped. The preliminary steps in the method of forming this lowermember It may best be described by reference to Figs. 1 to 3 andcomprise first providing a pair of strips 1 I and 12 of substantiallysimilar configuration and different size (Figure l). The strips may havea generally elongated elliptic configuration, with outwardly bowedcurving longitudinal edges and blunt ends. The strip II is preferablysubstantially uniformly larger than the strip I2 and is made from arelatively thin covering material such as leather having a good exteriorwearing surface. The smaller strip [2 is preferably formed from arelatively thick, pliable material having considerable springiness suchas soft leather, leather felt, or the like, and serves as a filler.

In forming the lower member if], the filler i2 is fastened as by anadhesive or cement I3 centrally of the inner face of the larger coverstrip H, resulting in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Following the initial assembly step, the cover strip ll may be notchedout at the corners as indicated at [4 and the end margins, identified ati5, and the longitudinal margins, identified at ll folded inwardly andsecured in overlapping relation to the filler IE to form the structureshown in Fig. 3.

The assembled lower member I0 is then folded inwardly about alongitudinal axis into a generally U-shape, forming a central channel I8 between upturned side walls ISand 2i] and a bottom wall 2|, as bestseen in Fig. 6. Due to the inherent pliability of the assembly it canalso be bent about a transverse axis into a generally inverted C-shapewith the channel opening outwardly, as shown in the lower part of Fig.4. These operations may be performed simultaneously if desired by meansof appropriate dies (not shown).

An upper member 22 is formed with a relatively stifi, narrow,reinforcing strip as a core or rib 23 made from metal, plastic, or thelike, and having a cover 24 made from leather or other desirablematerial. The cover 24 comprises a central portion 25 overlying the rib23 and having longitudinal marginal portions 26 and 21 folded about therib and pinched to ether at 28 beneath the rib to conform thereto, as bymeans of dies. The marginal portions 26 and 21 are cemented together andproject from the rib 23 as a depending flange 29. The ends of the cover24 may be turned in and fastened to the flange 29 as by means of staples30 (Fig. 4) to afford a finished appearance at the ends of the assembly.

The upper assembly 22 is bent into a substantially O-shape, generallycomplementary to the lower member I0, and assembled with the latter byinsertion of the flange 29 into the channel l8.

Assembly of the handle is completed by squaring the assembly members Iand 22 to shape and securing them together by means of stitching 3|passing through and connecting the flange 29 and the side walls 19 and20 of the lower member [0. This serves to pinch the side walls tightlyagainst the flange 29 beneath the rib 23, and the stitching furthertends to maintain the desired shape of the completed assembly.

Holes 32 and 33, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, are then formed ona common axis through the central lower end portions of the handle forreceiving pivot elements of attachment hardware by which the handle issecured to luggage, brief cases, or the like. It will be appreciatedthat the metal rib 23 will afford a rugged connection between the handleand a pivot pin or the like.

Since the upper edges of the sides 19 and 20 of the lower member I0engage below the reinforcing rib 23 of the upper member 22, thestitching 3| is saved from any substantial shearing stresses. The sidewalls I9 and 20 held by the stitching 3! are sufficiently strong toresist tendency of the upper member to spread them. Thus a very strongand durable handle is provided.

Furthermore, as best seen in Fig. 6, the flange 29 preferably opposesthe bottom wall 2| of the channel [8 in cushioning, cooperativerelation. The flange 29 therefore cooperates with the cushioning flllerl2 to give a substantial yet pliable and somewhat resilient cushion forthe palm grip of the handle. Without the backing afforded by means suchas the flange 29, the cushioning filler l2 might have too great atendency to collapse and bulge. Hence, it will be perceived that thefiller i2 and the flange 29 afford advantageous cushion structure.

The upper and lower members 22 and I0, respectively, may be of differentshades or colors to enhance their appearance.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A handle for leather goods, luggage and the like, comprising a fillerof generally U-shape in longitudinal contour and having outwardly turnedlongitudinal marginal portions defining a channel, a covering for saidfiller conforming to the contour thereof, a stiff rib conforming to thelongitudinal contour of said filler, a cover fitting therearound andhaving its longitudinal margins pinched under and forming a longitudinalflange depending centrally from an under surface of said rib, saidflange being disposed in said channel, and stitching extending betweenthe marginal portions of said filler and through said flange to holdsaid filler and rib together.

2. A luggage handle or the like comprising a palm grip member havingside walls defining a channel, an upper reinforcing member having acovering providing a longitudinal depending flange, said flange beinginserted within said channel, and means securing the side walls of thepalm grip member to said flange beneath said reinforcing member, topedges of the palm grip member side walls engaging the covering under thereinforcing member at the base of said flange.

3. A substantially C-shaped palm grip member of channel cross sectionwith the channel opening outwardly, a substantially C-shaped reinforcingmember of T-cross section and having the leg thereof within the channelof the palm grip member, the channel sides of the palm grip member beingsecured to said leg of the reinforcing member, and outer edges of saidsides being positioned under respective opposite head portions of the T-cross section reinforcing member.

4. A generally C-shaped palm grip member formed from substantiallyflexibly resilient but generally form retaining material and having agenerally channel shaped cross section with the channel openingoutwardly, a generally C-shaped reinforcing member comprising areinforcing bar and a covering of flexible material united insubstantially T-cross sectional formation so as to deflne a reinforcedhead and a flange leg, said flange leg being inserted within the channelof the palm grip member, the sides of the palm grip member being securedto said flange leg adjacent to shoulders defined by the head of thereinforcing member, outer edges of said sides supportingly engagingunder said shoulders, said flange leg being free from the sides of thepalm grip member throughout a substantial portion thereof interiorly ofthe palm grip member and said flange leg terminating adjacent to thebottom of the channel of the palm grip member, whereby to afford acushioning cooperation between said flange and the channel bottom of thepalm grip member.

5. In a luggage or like handle structure, a reinforcing strip ofgenerally C-shape, and a strip of flexible material covering saidreinforcing strip and having longitudinal margins pinched under thereinforcing strip and extending in face-toface relation from the innerside of the c-shaped reinforcing strip and providing with thereinforcing strip a configuration substantially T- shaped in crosssection, said face-to-face marginal portions providing a flexible flangeto be secured within a channel-shaped palm-grip member.

6. A handle for luggage or the like, comprising a palm grip memberincluding an elongated unit of stitchable material having itslongitudinal margins spaced so as to provide a channel formation, endportions of the palm grip member extending generally away from the openside of the channel so that the grip member appears generally C-shape inlongitudinal section, an elongated substantially C-shaped reinforcingmember covered by a strip of stitchable material of substantially largerarea than the reinforcing member, longitudinal margins of the coveringmaterial being disposed in face-to-face relation and projecting mediallyfrom the inner curved face of the reinforcing member to a substantialdistance therebeyond to provide a longitudinally extending median flangeat the inside of the curve, said flange being disposed in the channel ofthe palm grip member; stitching connecting the channel sides of the palmgrip member to said flange; and terminal portions of the resultinghandle, including terminal portions of the reinforcing member beingapertured so as to receive pivot elements.

7. A luggage or like handle construction comprising, in combination, apalm grip structure having side walls defining a channel facingupwardly, an upper reinforcing member having a covering providing alongitudinal depending flange, said flange being inserted within saidchannel, and means securing the side walls of the palm grip member tosaid flange beneath said reinforcing member, said side walls engagingthe covering under the reinforcing member and adjacent thev base of saidflange, each end portion of the handle having a pivot-receiving holetherein, said holes having a, common pivot axis, and each of said holesextending successively through the covered reinforcing member and saidpalm grip member.

LEO STEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record, in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,211,624 Ritter Jan. 9, 19171,495,950 Chakov May 27, 1924 1,705;858 Finkelstein Mar. 19, 19291,793,575 Williams Feb. 24, 1931 1,977,626 Finkelstein Oct. 23, 19341,977,674 Finkelstein Oct. 23, 1934 2,033,879 Cichowicz Mar. 10, 1936

